Danville Lawyers

I graduated from Tunstall High School in 2007. I went on to attend Hampden-Sydney College where I received my B.S. in History and graduated with the distinction of summa cum laude in 2011. I then attended Elon University School of Law. I received my J.D. in 2014 and became a member of the Virginia Bar in 2015. My areas of practice include personal injury, criminal defense, and domestic relations as well as general practice.

I have been practicing law in the Dan River Region for over 20 years and my experience successfully trying cases to verdict enables me to find solutions and reach settlements for my individual and corporate clients.

Wren M. Williams is the President of Schneider & Williams, P.C. He graduated from Patrick County High School and went on to attend Hampden-Sydney College as a Patrick Henry Scholar. There, Williams was active in student government, president of his fraternity, and received the Cohen Citizenship Award from the Lambda Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa. Williams graduated cum laude from Hampden-Sydney College, earning a BA in English with minors in both Rhetoric and Creative Writing. Following graduation, Williams attended Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law for its outstanding trial advocacy program. During his time at Cumberland, Williams served...

Jim’s practice focuses on collections, commercial law, business law and civil litigation. Since obtaining his Virginia bar license in 2016, he has helped many different types of businesses to obtain judgment and recover monies duly owed. His collection clients have included banks, insurance companies, landlords, apartment managers, dentists, care facilities, equipment lessors and others. With a variety of industries served, Jim aims to provide consistently efficient, effective and ethical creditors representation.

JD, Washington and Lee Law School
BA, University of Virginia (English and Mathematics)

Echols Scholar
Washington Scholar
National Moot Court Team
Big Brother of the Year

Recognized expert in consumer law and consumer rights litigation and has testified as an expert witness in the Virginia Circuit Courts

Cary Powell Moseley, Esquire
Attorney at Law
Moseley Law, PLLC
401 Otey Street
Bedford, Virginia 24523
540.583.5362 (office)
434.546.3774 (cell)
cary@carymoseley.com (email)
carymoseley.com (web)

Ward Armstrong has been practicing law for nearly 40 years. Now he and his daughter, Courtney Armstrong, practice together as The Armstrong Law Firm. The Armstrong Law Firm offers representation for cases of all types including criminal defense and drunk driving, personal injury from motor vehicle accidents, divorce and child custody, elder law and estate planning, including wills, and general civil matters. Don’t be strong-armed in the courtroom – hire The Armstrong Law Firm today!

Michael T. Trent is an experienced attorney with an active practice including criminal defense, general civil litigation including personal injury, and estate planning including wills and estates. His love for our Southside Virginia community is deep, with not only his growing up in Charlotte County, but with the vast majority of his family having called all different parts of Southside home. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from Lynchburg College, Mike received his Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts. He then decided to come home to Southside, and...

Britt is the Vice President of Schneider & Williams, P.C. Originally from Georgia, she graduated from Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology. Britt then went on to attend Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, Virginia. There, Britt chaired as Vice President of the Student Government Association, the Campus Events Organization, and a community service society unique to Sweet Briar. She also enjoyed the opportunity to captain the Women’s Varsity Lacrosse team. Britt graduated Sweet Briar College with a BA in Sociology with a minor in Religion.

Following graduation, Britt attended Samford University’s Cumberland School of...

I am an extremely experienced criminal defense attorney having represented over 50 people facing capital murder charges and a potential death sentence. As Capital Defender for S.W. Virginia I led a team of attorneys, investigators and mitigation specialists, over the course of 17 years none of our clients received a death sentence. Trial practice is my great strength as demonstrated by record of success. I led defense teams that secured the last two jury acquittals defendants charged with capital murder in Virginia. I have represented individuals charged with crimes ranging from trespassing to mass murder over the last...

Mia Yugo is a partner at Yugo Collins and head of the Appellate and Whistleblower Protection & Retaliation Divisions. Mia focuses primarily on whistleblower & retaliation cases, labor and employment law, fraud, false claims, discrimination, wrongful termination, and “protected activity.” Mia has also litigated complex constitutional cases before federal district and federal appellate courts, including the D.C. Circuit, and has a special interest in litigation involving jurisdiction, separation-of-powers, and the non-delegation doctrine.

Christopher has settled numerous cases for clients who have been injured and has taken numerous cases to trial. Christopher specializes in Motor Vehicle Accident Law, Property Damage Law, Insurance Law, Security Clearance Defense Law, Civil Litigation, Aviation Law and Contingency Fee based retainers. Christopher’s passion for and career in personal injury began after he was in a severe auto accident. While on his way to work, Christopher was struck by a foreign tourist in a rental car that was a negligent driver of a vehicle and was left with permanent injuries. After that incident, Christopher decided to attend law school...

Married, mother, Roanoke resident and Northern Virginia native.

Cerid returned to Roanoke, Virginia from London, England. Her experience to date has coupled academic and intellectually challenging substantive areas of law with core litigation skills.

Through her well-rounded experience, she aims to make her client’s life easier and help them with the law’s complexity, as often, those new or untrained in the law can find the legal system overwhelming and confusing. She possesses both complex commercial experiences with domestic civil and criminal law knowledge.

Criminal defense has included pretty much everything on the books in State court. Federal practice is a burgeoning one. Helped negotiate tortious...

Ms. Moses has over 20 years of experience in handling workers’ compensation cases, having spent time looking at claims from both sides of the case. Early in her career she worked as a workers’ compensation claim adjuster for an insurance company and later, after attending law school, she represented insurance carriers in workers’ compensation cases. Her early career experiences convinced her that she wanted to work for the “other side” and represent the injured worker.

Ms. Moses strongly believes in the rights of injured workers, and she represents ONLY injured workers. She and her staff...

I am a seasoned trial attorney who has been providing legal advice throughout Roanoke County, Roanoke City, the City of Salem, Franklin County, Bedford County, Botetourt County and courts throughout Southwest Virginia for more than a decade. But, I have been protecting citizen’s rights for even longer. Prior to becoming a criminal defense attorney, I served in the U.S. Marine Corps and earned the rank of Sergeant with the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington D.C. Then, I worked as a prosecutor in Roanoke City before finally becoming a criminal defense attorney in the greater Roanoke area, where I tried cases in...

Van’s practice is dedicated to criminal traffic defense. He has been an outspoken critic of Reckless Driving by Speed laws as applied in Virginia, and he stridently opposes the imposition of any “mandatory minimum” prison time for alcohol-related and other substance offenses. With his experience as a JAG officer, professor of law at VMI, and federal prosecutor who has tried numerous speeding and DUI cases, Van Hardenbergh brings a sharp set of skills and a history of tenacious defense to the table.

John Huntington has been advocating for clients with complex Family Law matters for decades. He is experienced using alternative dispute resolution models such as Judicial Settlement Conferences, Mediation, Collaborative Divorce practice, and Cooperative Divorce practice. While pursuing the best possible outcomes, Mr. Huntington is mindful of promoting the best interests of children, and dignity of those involved. He is dedicated to practicing law with professionalism and civility.

Mr. Huntington received his B.A. with honors, at the State University of New York at Binghamton. In 1981, he obtained a J.D. from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University....

My practice area focus is primarily criminal defense, traffic defense, and civil litigation in Southwest Virginia. I am also admitted to practice in Washington, D.C., the United States Eastern District of Virginia and the United States Western District Court of Virginia. When I'm not in the courtroom, I enjoy horseback riding and am often found trail riding on the weekends. If you have any questions and would like to speak with me, feel free to call the office at 540-339-7775.

Jonathan was born and raised in Fairlawn, VA. He graduated from Virginia Tech in 1998 with a Bachelor’s Degree in history, and immediately enrolled at the Penn State – Dickinson Scholl of law, where he graduated in 2001. He was the only member of his law school class to immediately open his own solo practice after passing the bar. To gain as much experience as possible he immediately joined the court appointed lists in his and all surrounding jurisdictions, and within several years had defended nearly 1,000 criminal felonies and misdemeanors. His attention to clients and good results soon resulted...

I help those who have been hurt by others. When individuals and families suffer from medical malpractice, dangerous premises, defective products, negligent driving, or other instances of carelessness, it's my job to guide my clients from the case’s initial evaluation in the office to its closing argument at trial.

Roanoke, Virginia, Personal Injury Lawyer: Ms. Bettina C. Altizer (Partner) was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. At the ripe age of three, she decided that she wanted to be a lawyer and that desire never wavered. Bettina moved to the Roanoke Valley with her family in 1973 and graduated with high distinction from the University of Virginia in 1985 with a B.A. in American Government. Bettina graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1988. began practicing with her father, Jack Altizer, in 1991 and they formed the Roanoke injury firm of Altizer & Altizer in Roanoke, VA....

A native of Southside Virginia, Clint Clary has been defending criminal and traffic cases in Southside Virginia for over 30 years.

Andrew P. Connors is a law professor at Liberty University School of Law and principal attorney at Darkhorse Law. He focuses his law practice on business law, intellectual property law, contracts, civil litigation, and mediation. He heads the intellectual property program at Liberty University School of Law and serves as the Director of the Legal Writing Center. He teaches courses on intellectual property, trademarks, mediation, and legal research and writing.

Super Lawyers Magazine named him a Rising Star for Appeals, Business Litigation, and Intellectual Property from 2012-2020. He was also named as part of the "Legal Elite" for Intellectual Property law...

Cheryl Watson Smith JD, has been in the private practice of law in Roanoke, Virginia since 1988 and practices in the area of family law, including complex property matters. Through the Collaborative Divorce Process, mediation, and negotiated settlements, she assists families in resolving disputes without going to court.

Ms. Smith is passionate about the Collaborative Divorce Process as an alternative to court battles for families in conflict. She is committed to expanding the use of the Collaborative Divorce Process by developing her own Collaborative Practice skills and training other professionals in the Collaborative Process. Ms. Smith is on the faculty...

David was born and raised in the Roanoke Valley; the son of a Registered Nurse and a Roanoke City Police Officer, he spent his childhood in Salem and attended Glenvar High School. After graduating, he went on to attend Virginia Tech where he received degrees in both Finance and Accounting. After graduation, David worked as an accountant in both the public and private sectors, but decided the law was his true calling. He went on to attend Washington & Lee University School of Law, where he graduated with honors at the top of his class in 2010. David began his...

A former Virginia prosecutor who is on your side. In 2014, Attorney Columbus was recognized as one of the top 100 lawyers in Criminal Defense by the National Trial Lawyers Association. Attorney Columbus has gained extensive experience having concluded over 1,500 cases including traffic criminal matters such as reckless driving, hit and run, eluding, driving on suspended license, DUIs to serious criminal matters such as larceny, sex crimes, robbery and murder cases. Rocco handles clients in Dinwiddie, Mecklenburg and Brunswick Counties for criminal and traffic matters. Clients can expect accessibility and responsiveness regarding their cases. If you have...

Admitted to practice law in Virginia in 1998, Mel brings a wealth of litigation experience to clients that includes practice as a prosecutor and working for insurance companies defending lawsuits, to include defending government officials charged with misconduct and violations of civil rights. Now he represents persons and small businesses in litigation arising out of serious personal injury, employment disputes, and employment and administrative/governmental grievances, such as professional discipline. Mel received his Bachelor of Science degree, magna cum laude, from Bridgewater College of Virginia in 1995, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Philosophy/Religion. In 1998,...

The Higgs Law Firm provides legal assistance to businesses and individuals throughout Virginia and nationwide in: Administrative Law; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Banking; Mortgages and Equity Financing; Bankruptcy (Creditors only); Business & Commercial Law; Civil Litigation; Corporations, Partnerships, L.C.C.s and other Entities; Creditors' Rights and Commercial Collections; Foreclosures; Lease Enforcement; Litigation; Real Estate; and Wills, Trusts and Estates. Bankruptcy practice limited to representing creditors. *The American Board of Certification is accredited by the American Bar Association to certify lawyers in the areas of bankruptcy law and creditors' right law. There is no procedure in the Commonwealth of Virginia for approving certifying...

Oneida N. Huntington is a dedicated Family Law Attorney at Huntington, Huntington & Huntington, PLLC. She represents clients with Divorce, Custody, Visitation, Support, Property Distribution, Adoption, Protective Orders, and other Family Law matters. Ms. Huntington has been certified by the Supreme Court of Virginia as a Mediator. She is committed to zealous advocacy focused on meeting the needs and goals of her clients.

Ms. Huntington received her B.A. in History from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She obtained her J.D. from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. Ms. Huntington is licensed to practice law in...

Michelle Derrico is a Roanoke criminal defense lawyer with years of experience defending clients against the Commonwealth. She has successfully represented clients accused of serious criminal charges such as murder and rape. At Copenhaver, Ellett & Derrico, you will work directly with Michelle to ensure that your questions are answered and you know exactly how the criminal process works in southwest Virginia.

I was born and grew up in the area - my family has served the legal needs of the area since 1892, over 120 years. My goal is to explain the legal process in plain English and to avoid the 'technical lawyer words' which only confuse many people. The primary focus of my firm is now "Elder Law" which broadly includes estate planning, Nursing Home admissions and Medicaid applications and adult guardianship. After a family member dies, we advise and assist in the estate administration process. In short, we help families plan and deal with aging...